Monday, January 10, 2005

Everybody’s Talking About Getting Out – Except the President

Some minds remain open long enough for the truth not only to enter but to pass on through by way of a ready exit without pausing anywhere along the route.
Elizabeth Kenny (1886 - 1952), Australian nurse

President Bush has promised that the United States will stay in Iraq until the job is done, the problem is no one knows what constitutes a job done. According to the New York Times, there is talk in Washington how American forces might begin to disengage in Iraq.

Naturally, Bush has not joined the conversations. But Congress is interested in getting out. In two years, many will be running in mid-term elections and if the war is still draining our budget and soldiers are dying, the Republicans could lose or have their majority numbers reduced. And, if they vote to privatize, or if you prefer the euphemism, personalize Social Security all their redistricting and social dividing tactics will not work.

As Maureen Dowd wrote in her Sunday NYT column, the president prides himself on being a pig-headed guy. The next few months may set the stage for the minority party. Possibly a Bush second term, while very difficult to watch, may be the best strategy Democrats could have employed.

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